South Point soccer falls to Western Alamance in NCHSAA 3A girls’ soccer final
The South Point girls’ soccer team lost in the N.C. state championship game Friday, falling to Western Alamance, 1-0, in the NCHSAA 3A state final.
The loss marks the third straight season the Red Raiders have fallen in the final. Western Alamance scored the game’s only goal in the second half to remain unbeaten and win its first state title.
South Point fell to Eastern Alamance, 4-0, in the 2023 final, then lost 3-2 on penalty kicks to Jacksonville in last year’s championship game.
But while the Red Raiders were disappointed in their finals loss Friday, their focus immediately turned to the future.
“This is our standard now,” South Point head coach Rich Lewandowski said. “Our standard now is at least the Western regional finals. We just have to get over the hump.
“Honestly, we’re going to be back again next year. We’ve got five freshman coming in that I know can play and a lot of returning players. And the players that are coming back to this team are going to be ready to work when we get back together in January.”
Lewandowski’s program has suffered 3A state title losses in 2023 to Eastern Alamance (4-0), in 2024 to Jacksonville (5-4 on penalty kicks after a scoreless tie) and this year to Western Alamance on a goal 12 minutes into the second half.
His players also plan on making a return trip.
“I think this will push us harder for next season to get back and win the title,” said freshman Lucy Rodenberger, one of seven underclass starters for South Point in Friday’s game. “I think it’s shown what we’re capable of.”
Added sophomore Jyi’yanna Watkins: “We worked really hard all season and we improved. I think people saw that. We want to show everybody that we’ve earned our spot here.”
Western Alamance, whose top five scorers were underclassmen, won when sophomore Callie Athas converted from 20 yards away for her team-high 32nd goal of the season.
Another Warriors underclassman, freshman Kayley Lee, finished the year with 31 goals and was named most outstanding player of Friday’s win.
Next year when the N.C. High School Athletic Association goes from four to eight classifications, both schools are assigned to the 5A classification.
Three who made a difference
Callie Athas, Western Alamance: Scored the game’s lone goal with 29:46 remaining in the match.
Kaylee Lee, Western Alamance: Controlled possession much of the night for the Warriors and was named most outstanding player.
Claire Houch, South Point: Junior had two of the Red Raiders’ three shots in Friday’s game.
Notable
▪ The game’s start was delayed 55 minutes because of a lightning delay after the teams had completed their warm-ups; a large crowd had to leave the stadium.
▪ The younger players expected to join the South Point program next year come in after raising Belmont Middle School to its Gaston County Middle School Conference-record 64-game winning streak.
▪ Western Alamance is 46-1-3 in the last two seasons, with the lone loss coming 4-3 on penalty kicks to eventual state champion Jacksonville in the 2024 Eastern 3A final.
They said it
“The girls were playing and playing their hardest but we lost our focus a little bit in the game. And that’s not what got us here. We’re a ball control team and we couldn’t get into our rhythm and get into our flow.” — South Point coach Rich Lewandowski
LINE SCORE
South Point 0 0 - 0
Western Alamance 0 1 - 1
Scoring: WA- Goal: Callie Athas.
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 9:37 PM.
